November 15, 2022: Inclusive Excellence Council Announced
The Division of Diversity and Inclusion invites nominations (including self-nominations) for the Inclusive Excellence Council (IEC). Guided by a charge from President Bolton, the IEC will function as a new campuswide committee with staff, faculty, student and alumni representation. We want to thank and honor those members of the Whitman community who previously served on WIDE, the Inclusion Task Force, and the 2017 DEI Strategic Planning implementation team. In the wake of pivotal national events, along with considerable changes to both the leadership of the college and the Division of Diversity and Inclusion, as well as changes to the organization of the Division of Diversity and Inclusion, an updated framework for the collective diversity and inclusion work of the institution was necessary and warranted.
The Inclusive Excellence Council is expected to function as an extension of the Division of Diversity and Inclusion. Individuals selected to serve on the IEC will form an institutional DEIA brain trust, contributing to divisional and institutional efforts to advance inclusive excellence. The IEC will convene each month during the academic year for a two-hour full-committee meeting. Sub-committee meetings will also be held monthly and those selected to serve should anticipate committing two-hours each week from their schedule for IEC-related activities.
IEC members will be expected to contribute insights based on their lived experience or expertise, fill DEIA awareness gaps, and inspire innovative approaches to advancing inclusive excellence at Whitman. The IEC is not designed to function solely in an advisory capacity and IEC members will assist the Division of Diversity and Inclusion in transforming strategic plan recommendations into feasible and measurable DEIA goals. Additionally, the IEC, in whole or in subcommittee, will:
- Assist with the review and awarding of DEIA Cultivation Grants,
- Promote DEIA related internal surveys and help share out results,
- Organize Community Learning Day programming for spring and potentially fall,
- Design and deliver micro-lessons or skillshops to enhance peer DEIA competencies,
- Collaborate on the development of an annual DEIA recognition/awards program,
- Contribute to the development and assessment of department-level DEIA plans,
- Serve as ambassadors for the Division and a sounding board for the VPDI.
The Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion (VPDI) will serve as the IEC chair. Additional IEC representatives will be approved by the Cabinet and selected to serve one or two-year terms on the Council. With service on the IEC expected to begin in January of 2023, an additional half-year term will be added to all initial appointments to the council, so that individuals selected will serve through the 2023-24 or 2024-25 academic year depending on the length of their initial appointment. Appointment renewals will be determined by the Cabinet. At-large students selected to serve on the IEC will receive compensation for their time.
Nominations, including self nominations, can be submitted through this form. Nominations received by 7 a.m. on December 2, 2022 are assured consideration.